A study in Academic Emergency Medicine finds that BCBS of Massachusetts' global budget contracts with providers did not in themselves lead to a drop in ER visits. Both members covered by and not-covered by the contracts had decreased ER use. The at-risk provider arrangements also did not demonstrate that inappropriate ER use was reduced.
Just showing how little areas in health care can have high value, Rexam is selling its division which makes inhalers, syringes and other packaging for medical devices and pharmaceuticals for an estimated $805 million to a private equity firm.
According to a Kaiser Foundation analysis the most expensive markets for "silver" plans sold on the public exchanges are the Colorado ski regions, at $483 a month for an individual plan, southwest Georgia at $461, rural Nevada at $456 and far west Wisconsin, adjacent to the Twin Cities in Minnesota, at $445.
Physio-Control, a former Medtronic unit, now owned by private equity, that makes defibrillators and emergency response software, is acquiring Duluth-based Sansio, which also makes software aimed at emergency services.
Radisphere, a national radiology company, has announced plans to create a software company to sell its technology to other radiology and provider groups.
Castlight, one of the early price transparency firms, is apparently planning an IPO which may value the company at as much as $2 billion, which seems simply absurd considering that these services which eventually be commoditized, if they aren't already, and offered free by insurers and the exchanges.
Wellpoint reported fourth quarter and full year earnings which were basically in line with expectations, not including a charge for the disposal of its vision business, and claims its risk pool from the public exchanges is about what it expected.
H.I.G. Capital has sold portfolio company MagnaCare, a TPA operating in the Northeast, to a group led by a Goldman Sachs affiliate.
http://higcapital.com/news/release/705
Feb032014
The Corridor Group, a vendor of compliance and consulting services to the post-acute care sector, has acquired Daymarck, which provides medical coding and OASIS reviews for the same segment.
Catalent, which provides clinical trial supply and related services, has filed for an initial public offering. Catalent was a subsidiary of Cardinal Health and had been sold to a private equity group.
CMS is staking a lot on accountable care organizations reducing spending while improving care for Medicare beneficiaries. A snapshot of early experience finds that 29 out of 114 ACOs generated enough savings to get some back from CMS. According to CMS, overall $380 million was saved. But less than half the programs had lower spending than projected and among Pioneer, or more experienced ACOs, performance was not much better. Many providers are undecided on seeking ACO status, since the $80 per patient savings don't go very far to paying for the immense additive costs of becoming one.
According to a Medical Economics survey, the primary concerns among physicians are reimbursement, paperwork, health care reform and outside interference with their practice decisions and many are frustrated by health information technology systems.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.